Answer: E) My mother considered the idea of a child sleeping alone a cruel American practice.
This sentence shows that the mother had a cultural background that was different from the American one. Even though for most Americans, a child sleeping alone would be common, for her it was a cruel practice. The excerpt shows that Hema's mother does not endorse all American practices, which indicates she has a different cultural heritage, in this case, a Bengali one.
The simile compares the ugly words to a group of buzzards.
Buzzards are a scavenger bird, preying on things that are dead or near dead. They are not considered good or kind animals. The buzzards sitting in a tree are just waiting to swoop down and devour the meal. The words are similar in that they get into his thoughts and mind, picking at whatever is left. It reminds the reader that Mr. Shiftlet is a damaged soul. He is not who the women think he is.
No matter if their families are at a feud they will forever love each other.
